Image Analysis for Characterization of Microtubule Protrusions

The dynamics of microtubules is central to how cells probe their environment and adopt both morphology and phenotypic fate. The length and dynamics of the protrusions that microtubules drive may be affected by the growth environment of a cell. This independent study project aimed to obtain data on the relationship between environment and microtubule disposition through integrated experiments and analysis. PDMS models in different sizes were fabricated by photolithography technology. The diameters of the PDMS model used in this experiment were 50, 75, 100, and 200 microns, respectively. A single 3T3 cell was grown in the PDMS model. After the 3T3 cell was grown and established, a three-dimensional picture of the 3T3 cell was taken by a microscope, and the length of the protrusions was obtained by measuring by software, and then the data was analyzed by MATLAB. The experimental result showed that the cells grown in 200-micron circles had a protrusions like that of cells grown in a normal environment and longer than those of cells grown in 100-, 75- and 50-micron PSMD models